TV coverage of women’s sport in Ireland is less than 12 per cent and only three per cent of print and four per cent of online coverage is dedicated to women’s sport, a Nielsen report for 20 x 20 shows. Almost 60 per cent of Irish people say the media should do more to promote female sport, with 57 per cent calling for gender equality sporting role models in media.
The research also found that 63 per cent of people would like to see Ireland’s sportswomen become national heroes in the same way as our sportsmen. The study’s results were released at the launch of the inaugural Investec 20 x 20 Media Awards, which aim to recognise and reward excellence in Irish journalism focused on women in sport.
20 x 20 is a Federation of Irish Sport (FIS) initiative which calls on people throughout Ireland to provide more support for women in sport. Broadcast, print and online journalists are invited to ‘show their stripes’ and submit entries on women in sport at www.investec.ie/20X20 from February to November, with a winner announced monthly.
Award entries can be submitted by nominees themselves or on behalf of journalists by editors or other media colleagues. Investec’s panel of judges will select one outstanding piece of journalism to award each month recognising and acknowledging that journalist’s contribution to women’s sport. Each winner will receive a prize of €1,000.
An overall annual winner will be announced in December.
The 20 x 20 concept was devised by the Along Came A Spider agency. Championed by Ireland’s national governing bodies and local sports partnerships, it is supported by Investec, AIG, KPMG, Lidl and Three. It aims to increase media coverage, boost attendances and grow involvement in female sport and physical activity by 20 per cent by the end of 2020.
